Hot Right Now
Niamh O’Reilly’s got your complete entertainment lineup for the fortnight ahead, with a big screen adaptation of a hit book, some top class action and binge-worthy TV picks.
WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING
Daisy Edgar-Jones stars as Catherine ‘Kya’ Clark in the hotly anticipated adaptation of 2018’s literary blockbuster Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. The book, set in North Carolina in 1969, has sold over a whopping 12 million copies.
The story follows Kya or the ‘marsh girl’ as she’s often referred, who has had to fend for herself from a young age in the marshlands, after being abandoned by her abusive father and siblings. When the body of local former high school football star Chase Andrews (Harris Dickinson) turns up dead, the locals start to point fingers at Kya.
It’s a little slow moving at times, but the film is beautifully shot, and you can feel the oppressive southern atmosphere of the era pop off the screen. Edgar- Jones is terrifically cast as Kya, with good support from the always watchable David Strathairn as her lawyer Tom Milton.
NOPE
Jordan Peele was always taking a risk bringing out a film called Nope. Just imagine the copy editors licking their lips at the possible puns. Nope you’re not going to see any of that here... sorry couldn’t resist. Anyway, the film centres on OJ (Daniel Kaluuya) and Emerald Haywood (Keke Palmer), who inherit their father's Hollywood horse trainer ranch in California. Things start getting weird when a mysterious object appears in the sky above them.
As with Peele’s other hits Us and Get Out, Nope has a lot more going on than meets the eye and has a lot to say about the world of Hollywood, the viewers' appetite for entertainment and the obsession with the American frontier.
But if anything, it tries to pack a little too much into its run two-hour time. Still, fans of films with a twist (or several!) in their tail will find much to enjoy. Nope hits Irish cinemas on August 12.
STREAMING PICKS
BLACK BIRD
The appetite for dramas based on true crime stories shows no signs of slowing down, with Black Bird being the latest offering to enter the ring.
Set in the mid-90s, the story centres on cocky drug trafficker Jimmy Keene (Taron Egerton), who gets nicked and sentenced to ten years in prison, after agreeing to a plea deal. A few months in he's approached by the FBI to transfer to a high security prison for the criminally insane to get a confession out of serial killer Larry Hall (Walter Hauser) who’s about to be released on appeal. If Jimmy can come up with the goods, he’ll get a pardon and his freedom.
It's a cracking set up and Egerton is terrific in the central role. It marks Ray Liotta’s final on-screen performance as Jimmy’s father and it’s a reminder of what a great actor he was. With shades of The Wire and True Detective in there, it’s a gripping watch with Hauser’s portrayal of the creepy Larry Hall a standout.
Streaming weekly on AppleTV+
THE GRAY MAN
Netflix reportedly shelled out $200 million on this Anthony and Joe Russo film adaptation of Mark Greane’s 2009 novel. Very much in the vein of Bond and Bourne, this is espionage action to the max. The plot is simple enough. The CIA’s most skilled spy, played by Ryan Gosling, known only as Sierra Six, uncovers some damning evidence while out on a mission and he then becomes the hunted.
Chris Evans is the one doing the hunting and free from his Captain America goodie shackles is having a blast playing the moustached bad guy Lloyd Hansen, who’ll stop at nothing to hunt down Sierra Six.
Featuring locations all around the globe and non-stop action, this is perfect popcorn fare that’s not too taxing on the brain. Watch out for some great supporting performances from Billy Bob Thornton and Ana de Amras.
Streaming on Netflix
PODCAST
READY TO BE REAL BY SÍLE SEOIGE
Well-known broadcaster Síle Seoige, chats to people from all walks of life, some you’ll know and some you won’t know, in this light and entertaining slice of podcast life.
Now a mum to a little boy and in what she describes as “a good place in her life”, Síle’s mission is to inspire, challenge, educate, comfort and entertain with her episodes. And her voice is perfect for the job. She chats to the likes of Deirdre O’Kane, Richie Sadlier, Sophie White and Amy Dunne (also known as Ms D) and covers a wide range of topics, as well as offering solo episodes that focus on meditation and wellness.
Available wherever you get your podcasts such as Spotify or Apple
CLASSIC FILM
THE MARTIAN 2015
If you’re looking for a survival movie without the downbeat doom and gloom, then Ridley Scott’s The Martian is a cracking choice. Starring Matt Damon as Mark Watney, an astronaut who must survive alone on Mars after being left behind and presumed dead by his crew.
Sounds a bit dark, right? Well wrong. Watney just so happens to be a botanist and engineer and uses his expert skill and knowledge to not only survive, but even grow food on the red planet.
Backed up by a pumping soundtrack from the likes of ABBA and Bowie, and a terrific supporting cast including Jeff Daniels, Jessica Chastain, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sean Bean, Kristen Wiig and more, it’s a belter of a film.